Fluid-actuated translating apparatus

ABSTRACT

Punched card interpreter using fluid jets for sensing the presence of holes and controlling diaphragm valves and fluid pressure to decode the hole arrangement and operate a recording device.

United States Patent References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 101/93R.c. ..235/61.l 17 ux l0l/93R.C.

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235/6l.ll ABSTRACT: Punched card interpreter using fluid jets for sensing the presence of holes and controlling diaphragm .235/61.1 17; valves and fluid pressure to decode the hole arrangement and operate a recording device.

2 m 7 k 6 0 G [51] Int. [50] Field of 235/201; 101/93 (R.C.) (Partial Search) PATENTEU MAY 4 l97| SHEET 10F 2 F GE Q 0 w m //v|//vTOR. RICHARD E. NQRWOOD ATTORNEY FLUlD-ACTUATEID TRANSLATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Information is often stored in a record member, such as a tabulating card, in the form of one or more holes punched in a column of possible data positions. This information is easily read and processed by machines but it is often necessary and highly desirable at times to translate the coded information into human-readable language. There have been developed for this purpose various machines which sense the record and control positioning of recording elements to print the character represented by the perforations. These machines generally employ brushes or photocells as sensing elements and require electrical circuits in conjunction with cyclic complex mechanisms to accomplish the translation and recording functions. Because of this the machines have the inherent disadvantages of complexity, high manufacturing costs, and a large number of moving parts subject to wear and failure.

Heretofore, machines have been developed to perform the translating function, and have used pressurized fluid such as air to perform the sensing and recording functions to thereby overcome the above-noted disadvantages. Sensing in one manner has been accomplished by directing a stream of pressurized fluid through the punched holes to actuate mechanical levers which in turn controlled recording devices such as pring wheels. In another device pressurized fluid was directed through a plurality of ducts which would be serially connected by a unique arrangement of the document perforations. When all ducts in the plurality were serially connected the fluid therein was at a sufficient pressure to actuate a piston which in turn recorded the corresponding character.

The sensing arrangements have some inherent disadvantages such as requiring compressed fluid at high pressure and in large quantities or, in the series of ducts, accumulating a buildup of card dust after prolonged operation which can block the ducts or disable the valves in the printing mechanism. As a result, larger power supplies and frequent maintenance are required which increase the initial cost of the mechanism and decrease the reliability thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a fluid-actuated interpreter of simplified design that is operable on lower fluid pressures and required smaller quantities of pressurized fluid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid-actuated asynchronous interpreter having sensing and actuating circuits using diaphragm controlled valves to isolate sensing and operating fluids to decrease the effect of accumulated record dust and thereby reduce maintenance requirements.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a fluid-actuated interpreter having improved reliability and arranged to lend itself to inexpensive manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION fluid from a source to a fluid-actuated recording means. The

primary duct may pass through diaphragm-controlled blocking valves and has secondary valved side venting passages to a low pressure sump to maintain the primary duct pressure below the actuating pressure of the recording means. A manifold supplied pressure fluid through nozzles directed at a column of data positions in a document. On the opposite side of the document path, there are receiving ducts which are connected to the control chambers of the venting valves and blocking valves. When a perforation occurs in a document, the pressure in the corresponding receiving duct is sufficient to close the valve. If all venting passages are closed off by the proper combination of perforations, the primary duct pressure builds to a level sufficient to actuate the recording means. However, an improper combination of holes caused by the presence of one or more additional holes, operates one or more blocking valves to prevent fluid flow in the primary duct. In the case when not all holes in a combination are present then a vent passage will be open so that the primary duct pressure will not increase to the actuating level.

The invention has the advantage that the parts of the fluid logic devices, such as the valves, can be of small size and can be compactly constructed by low cost molding processes. By using the diaphragm valves, low-pressure actuating fluid easily provides controlling functions while at the same time prevents the entry of moving card dust into the operating portion of the system.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a preferred embodiment of the translating apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of fluid pressure signals at various locations within the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the required location of venting and blocking valves for decoding various combinations of perforations in a document.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the translating apparatus of the invention isshown for a single column of perforations in a tabulating card 10. Pressurized fluid Ps, such as compressed air from any suitable source of approximately 2 to 3 p.s.i.g., is supplied to a distribution manifold 11 that has outlet nozzles 12 and 13 located at vertical card column index positions. Nozzles l2 correspond to the location of index positions for the holes representing the character for which the translating apparatus is to respond. Nozzles 13 are located at index positions which may have perforations in conjunction with those occuring at nozzles 12 and which represent a combination of perforations, hence a character, different from that which nozzles 12 are arranged to sense. The apparatus in the FIG. is to respond to the character Y which is represented by perforations in the 0 and 8 index positions. A combination of perforations at the 0, 3 and 8 or 0, 4 and 8 index positions represent different characters and the occurrence of holes at the 3 or 4 index positions is to render the sensing mechanism inoperative. Each of the nozzles produces a continuous jet of air directed toward the card as it is transported along its path by conventional means such as rollers 14.

Aligned with each nozzle on the opposite side of the card path are receiving ducts 16 corresponding to nozzles 12 and receiving ducts 17 corresponding to nozzles 13. Each duct 16 is connected to the control signal side of a respective diaphragm controlled valve I8 and each duct 17 is connected to the control signal side of a respective diaphragm controlled valve I9. Whenever a perforation occurs between a nozzle and its corresponding aligned receiving duct 16 or 17, the pressure in the duct is raised and is sufficient to move the diaphragm 20 therein against fixed ridge 21 to close off fluid flow over the ridge. The operation of fluid-controlled diaphragm valves is more fully described in my copending U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 384,921, filed July 24, 1964, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,329, and assigned to the assignee of this application.

Fluid from a source 25, which may beat the same pressure Ps as that supplied to manifold 11, flows through inlet restriction 26 into primary duct 2'7. The primary duct passage is through blocking valves 19 and outlet restriction 28 to atmosphere. Restriction 26 conserves fluid pressure when duct 27 is open to atmosphere and restriction 28, being smaller than restriction 26, permits a pressure buildup when the proper valves are open.

The primary duct is provided with side branches 29, 30 which are venting passages that flow to a low-pressure sump or, in this case, to atmosphere through valves lift. Valves T8 are normally open so the fluid flows from restriction 26 to the low-pressure sump at atmospheric pressure and maintains the pressure in duct 27 at an ineffective low pressure. Whenever both valves 18 are closed, because of perforations at the and 8 index positions, the pressure within duct 27 builds up to nearly that of supply 25. Valves T9 in the primary duct are effective when either is closed because of a perforation at the 3 or 4 index positions to isolate the downstream end of the duct so that pressure does not build up at that point, but instead is maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure because of the vent through restriction 28.

Output nozzles 13 are preferably formed as elongated slots with the longitudinal axis of the slot approximately parallel with the direction of document travel. By leaving nozzles 12 round, nozzles 13 are effective prior to nozzles l2, when perforations occur, to close valves 19 before valves lib can be closed. Otherwise, if valves 18 close first, the pressure in primary duct 27 starts to rise so that valves 39 are more difficult .to close.

' may be too rapid so that a double actuation of the recording means occurs before the card column passes the sensing nozzles. The restriction and delay permit the pressure buildup to be slowed sufficiently to insure that the card column will be effectively past the sensing ducts at the time the recording takes place.

The recording means comprises a control circuit 35, which is a fluid-actuated bistable flip-flop, and a print piston 36 having a type slug 37 attached to the piston. The flip-flop circuit is supplied with pressurized fluid from a source such as 25 at each of four ducts 41, 42, 43 and 44. in the absence of any input signal to the flip-flop, fluid is supplied to duct 4! and flows through valve 45 which is normally open but is blocked by normally closed valve 46 so that the fluid is forced along branch duct 47 to piston chamber 48. The pressurized fluid forces piston 36 to the right or retracted position against stop 49.

Fluid supplied to duct 42 flows through restriction 50 and normally open valve 51 to chamber 52 having double acting diaphragm 53 which may be assumed normally positioned as shown. The fluid continues through duct 54 having restriction 55 so that a relatively high pressure is reflected along duct 56 to the control chamberof diaphragm valve 46 to maintain valve 46 closed. Restriction 55 permits exhausting the pressurized fluid in duct 54 when diaphragm 53 closes off the fluid supply.

Fluid supplied to duct 43 flows through restriction 57 through normally open valve 58 but is blocked by diaphragm 53 at chamber 52. The pressure is reflected along duct 59 to the control chamber of diaphragm valve 64) and is operable to normally close the valve as will be explained.

Fluid supplied to duct 44 flows through valve 64) when open and through valve 6 directly to atmosphere through no restrictions. Although the input pressure at ducts 43 and 44 is the same, there is a pressure drop for the fluid in duct 44 from the supply pressure to atmospheric and hence the fluid pres- -sure as it passes through valve 60 must of consequence be lower than the trapped fluid in duct 59. The pressurized fluid in ducts 43 and 59 is therefore operable to close off valve 60 so that normally no fluid flows in duct 44. Once closed, the fluid pressure in duct 44 acts on only half the diaphragm area while the fluid from duct 59 acts on the entire diaphragm surface area and the valve will remain closed. The arrangement and conditions described thus far with regard to the control circuit reflect a static condition in which no input pressure signal is received from the sensing duct 27.

When the pressure in duct 27 rises to the effective level required to operate the control circuit 35, the pressure pulse rises sufficiently to close the diaphragm of valve 51 so that the pressure in duct 42 is reflected along duct 62 .to close the valve also. Since the supply pressure is present in duct 43 and valve 58 is open, the supply pressure is effective to move double acting diaphragm 53 to the opposite position, thus blocking the supply to duct 54 and directs fluid to duct 63 having restriction 64. The pressure of fluid held in ducts 56 and 54 now escapes to atmosphere through restriction allowing valve 46 to open and exhaust ducts 41 and 47.

When pressurized fluid starts flowing in duct 63, it is slowed by restriction 64 and its pressure is effective in duct 65 to close valve 61. During the time the fluid is flowing in duct 43 to atmosphere through chamber 52 and restriction 64, the pressure has decreased sufficiently to allow the supply pressure to open valve 60 so that fluid flow occurs in duct 66 which carries the fluid to the bottom of the print piston 36. This results in driving the print piston toward the left or to the extended position so that type slug 37 is driven against ribbon 67, card 10 and platen 68. This results in leaving an impression of the decoded character along the top edge of the document.

The forward travel of piston 36 during printing exposes reset duct 70 and exhaust port 711 having a restriction 72. Since duct 70 is open for a brief moment to the substantially full pressure of duct 66 a pressure pulse occurs in duct 70 which is reflected at valve 58 that is effective to close the valve and prevent fluid flow in duct 43. With valve 58 closed the pressure of the fluid in duct 59 is again effective to close valve 60 and remove the supply of pressurized fluid along duct 66 to piston chamber 48. At the time valve 58 was closed, the holding pressure on diaphragm 53 was also removed so that the diaphragm then assumed the position as shown in the FIG. This permitted valve 61 to open since its control chamber is exhausting to atmosphere through restriction 64. However, on the opposite side of diaphragm 53 the supply pressure in channel 42 is effective through valve 51, now open to supply pressurized fluid to ducts 54 and 56 to thereby close valve 46 and reestablish the supply pressure induct 47 which returns the print piston to its retracted position against stop 49. Valve 51 is supplied with only a brief pressure signal from the sensing duct so that its action does not restrict the piston movement.

A description of the fluid pressure signals that are encountered in the operation of the translating apparatus is shown in FIG. 2 by the idealized curves at the various pressure taps taken in FIG. 1. For example, the resulting pressure pulse upon detecting a hole at the 0 index position for duct 16 would indicate the pulses shown in curve (a) for pressure tap Pl. At

curve (b) is shown a similar pressure pulse as it would appear upon detecting a hole at pressure tap P2 at index position 3 or 4. ln curve (c) is shown the appearance of the pressure pulse at pressure tap P3 where the buildup of the pressure is relatively slow because of the restrictive flow at 26. Curve (d) shows the ultimate pressure signal which is applied to close valve 51 at pressure tap P4. The slope of the pressure signal at P4 is less than at P3 and the drop off of the pressure signal upon termination is relatively slow. A dotted line indicates the pressure level at which the latch will switch to initiate operation. it can be seen that by slowing the rise of the fluid pressure within duct 32 at P4 the length of the effective pressure signal is severely shortened so that the document is given time to partially traverse the sensing station before the flip-flop is actuated to produce printing.

in some cases, it may be advantageous to run the sensing and logic devices at a lower pressure than the latch circuit to conserve airflow. Amplification will then be needed to boost the logic signal to a level sufficient to switch the latch. The single shot action can be preserved by again utilizing the difference between the driving and dumping impedance of an amplifier circuit. FIG. 3 shows the schematic of such an arrangement. The sensing and logic pressure is now a new value Ps' which can be made much lower than the regular latch pressure Ps. Upon producing a pressure signal in duct 32, the diaphragm of amplifier valve 80 closes off the flow from source Ps through restriction Si in duct 82 so that the full value of supply pressure Ps is reflected in duct 32a. However, in this arrangement the resistance of restriction 8k is made very high so that the time constant of the restriction-volume combination is relatively long. Therefore, pulse at pressure tap 1 P4 rises slowly. The time constant is chosen so that some time after the pressure has risen past the latch switching pressure, the pressure in duct 32 drops to 0. Now the amplifier valve is pennitted to open and the pressure in duct 82 drops nearly instantaneously due to the low dumping impedance of the diaphragm valve. Here again the time that the input signal to the latch is above the switching level is much less than the time during which venting valves 18 are closed by the holes in the card. Thus the latch set signal will be off before the reset signal from the piston chamber has arrived.

In FIG. 4 there are shown the combinations of venting and blocking valves required for each character in the primary ducts when the document is' punched in accordance with the Hollerith code. The index positions in which the two types of valves are to appear are noted at the left margin of the diagram and the characters represented by particular code combinations of perforations are noted at the top of the FIG. The open rectangles indicate the index positions for which there are venting ducts and valves and also the perforations in a column which represent the character. The cross-hatched rectangles indicate the index positions for which blocking valves are to be provided so that the translating apparatus will not respond erroneously to another character code. For example, the character C is represented by holes in the 12 and 3 index positions. However, the period is represented by perforations in the 12, 3 and 8 index positions so that without a blocking valve operated by a perforation in the 8 position, the C primary duct would respond erroneously when the code for a period appeared in the document. As a further example, it will be noted that the primary ducts for the numerals 1 through 9 each have blocking valves in the 12, ll and index positions, since the presence of a perforation is one of these positions in combination with an index position representing a numeral is the code for an alphabetic character. At this point it can be seen that each primary duct may be made to respond to a unique combination of perforations in a record member by the proper combination of venting and blocking valves. Because of this, the translating and recording apparatus described above can be used with codes other than the Hollerith code and with codes having different numbers of index positions in a document. Although the translating apparatus has been shown as recording the decoded character on the same document having the perforations, particular decoding applications may require that the translated data be recorded on another document remote from the translating apparatus. This can be readily accomplished since the ducts between the sensing means and latch or latch and recording piston allow any of a variety of configurations.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. ln a device for recording a character represented by per forations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising:

means for conveying a said document along a path;

manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon;

means responsive to a fluid pressure recording signal above a first pressure for recording a said character;

duct means connected with a source of pressurized fluid for delivering a fluid signal above asecond pressure at the output thereof, said duct'means having venting passages to maintain said pressure within said duct means below said second pressure;

valve means in said venting passages responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in predetermined data positions for closing said venting passages to establish said output fluid pressure signal; and amplifying means responsive to said fluid output signal at said second pressure for producing a recording signal above said first pressure.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 further including means responsive to said streams through other than said predetermined perforations for blocking said duct means and preventing the occurrence of said output signal.

3. in a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in 2 a document, apparatus comprising:

means for conveying a said document along a path;

manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid in parallel at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon;

means responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined minimum for recording a said character;

duct means connecting a source of fluid at a pressure above said minimum with said recording means for transmitting said pressure, said duct means having a venting passage for each of said preselected positions to maintain said pressure of said duct means below said minimum;

valve means in each said venting passage responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in preselected data positions for closing its said venting passage to increase said duct pressure above said minimum; and

means in said duct means being operable by a said stream through a said perforation at other than said preselected data positions for blocking the fluid from said source to said recording means.

4. in a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising:

means for conveying a said document along a path;

manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid in parallel at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon;

means responsive to fluid pressure above a predetennined minimum for recording a said character;

duct means connecting a source of fluid at a pressure above said minimum with said recording means, for transmitting said pressure, said duct means having a venting passage for each of said preselected positions to maintain said pressure of said duct means below said minimum;

valve means in each said venting passage responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in preselected data positions for closing its said venting passage to increase said duct pressure above minimum; and

means interposed between said duct means and said recording means for delaying the transmission of said pressure to said recording means, said delay means comprising a chamber having an adjustable impedance to fluid flow at the inlet thereto.

5. In a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising:

means for conveying a said document along a path;

manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid in parallel at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon;

means responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined minimum for recording a said character;

duct means connecting a source of fluid at a pressure above said minimum with said recording means, for transmitting said pressure, said duct means having a venting passage for each of said preselected positions to maintain said pressure of said duct means below said minimum; and

valve'means in each said venting passage responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in preselected data positions for closing its said venting passage to increase said duct pressure above said minimum, said valve means comprisinga flexible diaphragm movable by a said stream against a fixed ridge transversely of said flow to block said venting means.

6. In a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising:

means for conveying a said document along a path;

manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid in parallel at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon;

recording means comprising a chamber with a piston duct means connecting a source of fluid at a pressure above said minimum with said recording means, for transmitting said pressure, said duct means having a venting passage for each of said preselected positions to maintain said pressure of said duct means below said minimum; and

valve means in each said venting passage responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in preselected data positions for closing its said venting passage to increase said duct pressure above said minimum. 

1. In a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising: means for conveying a said document along a path; manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon; means responsive to a fluid pressure recording signal above a first pressure for recording a said character; duct means connected with a source of pressurized fluid for delivering a fluid signal above a second pressure at the output thereof, said duct means having venting passages to maintain said pressure within said duct means below said second pressure; valve means in said venting passages responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in predetermined data positions for closing said venting passages to establish said output fluid pressure signal; and amplifying means responsive to said fluid output signal at said second pressure for producing a recording signal above said first pressure.
 2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 further including means responsive to said streams through other than said predetermined perforations for blocking said duct means and preventing the occurrence of said output signal.
 3. In a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising: means for conveying a said document along a path; manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid in parallel at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon; means responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined minimum for recording a said character; duct means connecting a source of fluid at a pressure above said minimum with said recording means for transmitting said pressure, said duct means having a venting passage for each of said preselected positions to maintain said pressure of said duct means below said minimum; valve means in each said venting passage responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in preselected data positions for closing its said venting passage to increase said duct pressure above said minimum; and means in said duct means being operable by a said stream through a said perforation at other than said preselected data positions for blocking the fluid from said source to said recording means.
 4. In a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising: means for conveying a said document along a path; manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid in parallel at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon; means responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined minimum for recording a said character; duct means connecting a source of fluid at a pressure above said minimum with said recording means, for transmitting said pressure, said duct means having a venting passage for each of said preselected positions to maintain said pressure of said duct means below said minimum; valve means in each said venting passage responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in preselected data positions for closing its said venting passage to increase said duct pressure above minimum; and means interposed between said duct means and said recording means for delaying the transmission of said pressure to said recording means, said delay means comprising a chamber having an adjustable impedance to fluid flow at the inlet thereto.
 5. In a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising: means for conveying a said document along a path; manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid in parallel at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon; means responsive to fluid pressure above a predetermined minimum for recording a said character; duct means connecting a source of fluid at a pressure above said minimum with said recording means, for transmitting said pressure, said duct means having a venting passage for each of said preselected positions to maintain said pressure of said duct means below said minimum; and valve means in each said venting passage responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in preselected data positions for closing its said venting passage to increase said duct pressure above said minimum, said valve means comprising a flexible diaphragm movable by a said stream against a fixed ridge transversely of said flow to block said venting means.
 6. In a device for recording a character represented by perforations at preselected ones of a plurality of data positions in a document, apparatus comprising: means for conveying a said document along a path; manifold means adjacent said document for directing pressurized streams of fluid in parallel at selected ones of a column of data positions thereon; recording means comprising a chamber with a piston therein movable between printing and retracted positions, and control means having a fluid-actuated bistable latching circuit including a valve with a flexible diaphragm control element movable in response to fluid pressure above a predetermined minimum for applying pressurized fluid to drive said piston to said printing position to record a said character; duct means connecting a source of fluid at a pressure above said minimum with said recording means, for transmitting said pressure, said duct means having a venting passage for each of said preselected positions to maintain said pressure of said duct means below said minimum; and valve means in each said venting passage responsive to said streams of fluid through perforations in preselected data positions for closing its said venting passage to increase said duct pressure above said minimum. 